QF-4G Phantom II Crash Site

February 19th 2020





Summery :

 The McDonnell Douglas F-4G Phantom II is a dedicated SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) variant for USAF with updated radar and avionics, converted from F-4E the USAF version of all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed for the US Navy.
After the retirement, this aircraft was converted into drones under the designation QF-4G.
Tracor Flight Systems of Austin, Texas was to do this conversion work.

This QF-4G (#69-7301) was one of three F-4Gs that sent to Tracor flight Systems for the initial conversion work.
On May 14, 1993, this QF-4G(#69-7301) piloted by Edward C. Mankin Jr. with Barron Fredricks III was on pilot qualification sortie (TR-4) flight out of Mojave Airport, CA.

Two days prior of the flight, Barron called his friend (retired USAF pilot) and discussed the convention which they were both attend from 14 to 16 May at Pahrump, NV.
And He stated he would be flying a training sortie and flyover the golf course where his friends would playing at the time.

Around 1:30 PM, this aircraft flew over the golf course, then initiated a right descending turn back toward the golf course.
It lost control while it was in low altitude (100 - 200 AGL) with a slowly increasing right bank, and crashed into the ground.

Both crew didn't attempt an ejection and fatally injured.

Since his freiends were expecting this "flyover" at the golf course/hotel, this crash was witnessed by many people.

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There were hundreds of tiny metal fragments can be seen at the site, but no larger than hand size.
Those wrecks were widly spread over 500 ft from the initial impact point.


    
Description



Manufacturer:
McDonnell Douglas
Base model:
F-4
Version:
G
Nickname:
Phantom II
Designation System:
U.S. Air Force
Designation Period:
1960-Present
Basic role:
Fighter-Bomber
Serial Number:
69-7301
Year built:
1969
Crash Date:
1993/5/14
Fatalities:
2




Specifications



Length:
62' 10" 18.9 m
Height:
16' 6" 5.0 m
Wingspan:
38' 5" 11.7 m
Wingarea:
530.0 sq ft 49.2 sq m
Empty Weight:
28,276 lb 12,823 kg
Gross Weight:
50,341 lb 22,830 kg





Propulsion



No. of Engines:
2
Powerplant:
General Electric J79-GE-15
Thrust (each):
10,900 lb





Performance



Cruise Speed:
587 mph 945 km/h 510 kt
Max Speed:
1,459 mph 2,349 km/h 1,269 kt
Ceiling:
59,400 ft 18,104 m


    
Other F-4 Link :
 Wikipedia Link : McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
    



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